Chirps from Center Ice

Wilkes-Barre / Scranton has won seven in a row, tonight defeating the Adirondack Phantoms 4-2.

John Curry vs. Michael Leighton. With Dustin Jeffrey called up (and scratched earlier today) to Pittsburgh, Ryan Schnell skated on a fourth line, with Bryan Lerg centering the top line and Keven Veilleux up on the third line. Radio indicated that Dustin “may” be back tomorrow in time for the 3 p.m. game in Connecticut vs. the Whale.

First period: Rob Bordson high stick early led to a Corey Potter power play goal. It would be Corey’s first goal as a Penguin. Potter dug the puck off the boards and fired a shot at Leighton which beat him on the short side. Later, Potter would cough up a puck that Luke Pither would steal and pass to Greg Moore for a goal which tied it. Later, Brett Sterling came in on a 2 on 1 with Tim Wallace and sniped a goal on Leighton which put the Penguins back on to at 2-1.

Second period: Biggest play here came when Eric Tangradi would get penalized for roughing, but after the whistle Steve Wagner would slash and Tim Wallace would fight. This would lead to Wilkes-Barre having to kill off a full 2:00 of a 5 on 3. This was without the league’s best penalty killer Dustin Jeffrey. Late in the period Brett Sterling would get denied on the doorstep of Michael Leighton.

Third period: Jon Kalinski would get whistled for roughing at 8:49, but after that penalty expired Nick Johnson scored an even strength goal when a Ryan Craig shot towards the goal went in off of Nick’s leg. About 12 minutes into the period radio announced that the Phantoms only had 1 shot on goal. Zach Sill would sit for roughing at 15:44 and the Pens would kill it. Radio announced that as 13 straight penalties killed by the Penguins. Late, Ryan Craig would get an empty net goal to make it 4-1. The Pens would have to kill a Keven Veilleux high stick and Danny Syvret would score to make it 4-2.

Overall I thought it was another solid game by the Penguins. Bombulie called it another game where an opponent got outgunned by us in his postgamer. He also mentioned that in the seven game winnings streak that the Penguins are 3/34 in the power play conversion department or 8.8%. Oofda!

Around the Division: Charlotte was idle. Norfolk won late 3-2 over the Bridgeport Sound Tigers. Hershey lost to Lake Erie in a shootout 3-2 after being up 2-1 and getting scored on late with the Monsters goalie pulled. Manchester beat Binghamton 4-3. Albany beat Springfield 6-3 and Syracuse beat Rochester 2-1.

Standings: WBS has 64 points to Charlotte’s 51. Norfolk with the win is now tied in points with the Checkers with 51 points of their own. Hershey is in fourth with 49 points. Binghamton is fifth with 46 points. Albany sits 6th with 37 points. Syracuse has 35 points for seventh and the Phantoms are still last with 26 points.

Tomorrow: Charlotte and Norfolk battle it out in Charlotte for second place, Hershey plays Binghamton in Binghamton.

Should be fun tomorrow for the Pens as they try to sweep the weekend in Hartford tomorrow afternoon vs. the Whale.

Go Pens.